Reich

From Middle High German riche, from Old High German rīhhi (“power, might, empire”), from Proto-West Germanic *rīkī, from Proto-Germanic *rīkiją, itself either a substantivised *rīkijaz (“rich, mighty”) (whence also German reich (“rich”)), or a direct borrowing from a Celtic language; compare Old Irish ríge (“rule, kingship”). Cognates include Old English rīċe (“kingdom, empire”) (obsolete English riche and rike), Dutch rijk (“empire, realm”), West Frisian ryk, Danish rige (“empire, realm”), Swedish rike, Icelandic ríki, Lithuanian rikis (“military commander, ruler”), and Sanskrit राज्य (rājyá, “royalty, kingship, sovereignty, empire”).